On July 11, 1960, the widely esteemed novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, written by Harper Lee, was published and found instant acclaim. The novel is praised for its light and humorous approach to addressing highly controversial issues, such as racism, toxic versus nontoxic masculinity, and sexual assault. Numerous activist groups have campaigned against the book’s dissemination, particularly in schools; nonetheless, Harper Lee’s novel remains one of the most well-read and influential literary works of all time.
Atticus Finch, the father of the novel’s narrator who works as an attorney, is celebrated specifically for both his wise, nurturing fatherhood and his integrity in the profession of law. The character was portrayed by Gregory Peck in the 1962 film adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, and, in 2003, the American Film Institute named Atticus Finch as the greatest hero of all American cinema.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” has received many awards and honors since its publication in 1960. In 1961, Harper Lee won a Pulitzer Prize from Columbia University and the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Millions of PBS viewers chose Harper Lee’s novel as America’s Favorite Book in 2018, the British public voted it as the 6th best-loved via a BBC survey in 2003, and dozens of other polls from across the decades rank the book amongst the favorite and most popular in the world.
A connected work titled “Go Set a Watchman”, written by Harper Lee before her death in 2016, was initially published as a sequel but has since been proven to be an earlier draft of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. However, the legacy of Harper Lee’s iconic and only literary work lives on in countless classrooms and libraries across the world and in the minds of the millions of readers who count “To Kill a Mockingbird” as their favorite book.
Anthony Bringaze 